China’s Tencent Plans Dev-Team For ‘ChatGPT Alternative’

Lavina Daryanani
Source: NotebookCheck

ChatGPT and other similar chatbot platforms have been revolutionizing the technology space. Thanks to the launch of OpenAI’s bot in Q4 last year, artificial intelligence [AI] continues to be one of the most discussed and searched topics on the Internet.

Source: Google Trends

Also Read: China To Block ChatGPT Integration: Claims AI Spreads Propaganda

Tencent sets up dev team to work on ChatGPT variant

Tapping on the trend, several companies from the technology space have been stepping up, with Tencent being the latest organization. Citing two unnamed sources, a recent Reuters report brought to light that the Shenzhen-based Chinese multinational technology and entertainment conglomerate has “set up a development team to work on a ChatGPT-like chatbot.”

Reuters’ sources were reportedly unauthorized to speak to the media and thus refused to be identified. However, they revealed,

The product, to be called “HunyuanAide”, will incorporate Tencent’s AI training model named “Hunyuan.”

Also Read: China’s Baidu Is Almost Ready With A ChatGPT-Style Chatbot

According to the translated version of a local media outlet 36kr’s report, Zhengyou Zhang is set to lead the HunyuanAide project team. In his early years, he worked at the Microsoft Research Institute.

Reportedly, Zhang has contributed to many Microsoft products, including Windows, Office, Xbox, Kinect, Skype for Business, and Office Lens. The computer scientist joined Tencent in 2018. Here, he led the establishment of Robotics X, the Tencent robotics laboratory intended to promote the next generation of robot research for human-machine collaboration.

As far as the bigger picture is concerned, China is against ChatGPT. However, it continues to remain bullish on its underlying AI technology. Furthermore, as reported in a recent article, the government affirmed that it saw the prospects of ChatGPT-like technology.

China’s Ministry of Science and Technology is all set to start pushing for the integration of AI into society and the economy. Parallelly, Baidu, a Chinese search engine, is currently working on its own version of ChatGPT, dubbed Ernie Bot. This is expected to launch next month.

Also Read: China To Promote Integration of ChatGPT’s Underlying AI Tech